Hi there
Im sorry to hear that your having panic attacks and I can sympathise with you completly. I used to have them dreadfully some years back. They are so frightening, I had the most dreadful one once whilst driving, I had to pull over and phone a friend, who came to resuce me as I thought I was having a stroke, it was very real and frightening to me at the time, as I completley went numb in my arms and legs and face and then had pins and needles, I too went to hospital in an ambulance, had loads of tests and then they diagonsed an Anxiety attack. The Pins and Needles were caused by my breathing too fast and hyper-ventilating.
I tried tablets, but they lowered my blood pressure too much, which made me feel faint, so my doctor then sent me for councilling, which was brilliant. It all stemmed from my very messy Divorce, my mother suffering from epileptic fits, and general depression. The biggest hurdle for me to overcome wasnt the attacks themselves, but the phobia of having an attack when I was out. I didnt want to drive, or go out and socialise in fear of having an attack in front of people, however I had a great network of friends who understood, that if I felt as though I was going to have a panic attack, were very understanding and reasuuring, and with the help of the counciller and my friends, I was soon feeling much better and learning how to cope if I did panic.
I havent had a major panic attack now for a long time, although I know now how to calm myself down should I feel even the slightest hint of the adrenalin in my body starting to flare up. If im driving, I sing, after all its impossible to breath to fast if your singing, and if Im shopping or in a meeting, I just think positive thoughts and tell myself this will pass, and try to calm myself of the flight or flight feelings of panic.
Good luck to you, this will pass, as hard as it is when having a panic attack, just keep as calm as you can and tell yourself it will pass.
so then I panic and its like a ongoing circle.
